Aunt

Japanese: おじ･おば(伯父･伯母∥叔父･叔母) - おじおば

In general, uncle and aunt are kinship terms that refer to the siblings of parents, and people called uncle and aunt play various important roles for their nephews and nieces, but sometimes the meaning of uncle and aunt is expanded or changed in connection with the family system. The most important role of uncles and aunts is to act as guardians in the transition from the old ritual stage to the new stage during various stages of rites of passage such as childbirth, child-rearing, coming of age, and marriage. This is a role that parents cannot play, and in this respect the role of uncle and aunt is similar to that of the boss in a boss-subordinate relationship.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

一般におじ･おばは父母の兄弟姉妹を指示する親族名称であり，おじ･おばとよばれる人々はおい･めい(甥･姪)に対してさまざまな重要な役割を果たしているが，これとは別に家族制度との関連でおじ･おばが意味拡大もしくは変化させて用いられる場合もある。おじ･おばの最も重要な役割は出産，産育，成人，婚姻など通過儀礼の諸段階において，古い儀礼段階から新しい段階への移行にあたっての保護者的役割である。これは両親が果たすことのできない役割であり，この点においておじ･おばの役割は親分･子分関係における親分の役割に類似している。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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